Christie mum on reported investigations of potential securities law violations

Gov. Chris Christie at a public bill-signing appearance outside the Statehouse in Trenton Tuesday said nothing about reported investigations into possible securities law violations by his administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Christie delivered comments about the legislation continuing a 2 percent cap on base salary police and fire arbitration awards and introduced other speakers, then was escorted by his security detail back into the Statehouse without taking questions from members of the large media turnout.

In bond documents describing the Skyway reconstruction and other repairs, the Port Authority has called the projects "Lincoln Tunnel Access Infrastructure Improvements," even though the Skyway is about 6 miles from the tunnel.

A New York State law called the Martin Act allows prosecutors to bring felony charges for intentionally deceiving bond holders, without having to prove any intent to defraud or establish that fraud occurred, the report said.

Jeffrey Chiesa, Christie's former attorney general who was appointed by Christie to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank Lautenberg, has received a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney but is not a target of the investigation, the Times said.

Authorities declined to comment on the record for the story.

Officials from the Port Authority and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office issued statements.

"The Pulaski Skyway agreement was analyzed and negotiated by lawyers on all sides,'' the Port Authoritiy said. "Separately, the law firm of Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe has served as standing underwriters' counsel on Port Authority bond issues for more than 25 years, reviews all Port Authority bond disclosures and other matters, and has provided appropriate opinions to the underwriters on those bonds."

A spokesman for acting Attorney General John Hoffman, a Christie appointee, said the office "took responsibility for reviewing and negotiating the agreement with the Port Authority, on behalf of the Department of Transportation, for the $1.8 billion in infrastructure improvements that included the Pulaski Skyway.''